Georgia Sen. John Kennedy Resigns From State Senate To Run Full Time For Lieutenant Governor

Republican state Sen. John Kennedy announced Tuesday that he has resigned his Georgia State Senate seat effective immediately to focus full time on his campaign for lieutenant governor.

“Continuing my service in the state senate while also running for Lt. Governor would be a disservice to both my constituents and the thousands of hardworking Georgians who have pledged their support for our vision,” Kennedy said in a statement.

The Macon attorney, first elected to the state Senate in 2014 and chosen by his GOP colleagues as president pro tempore in 2023, said practical campaign constraints influenced his decision. Georgia lawmakers are generally barred from raising campaign funds while the legislature is in session — typically January through April — limiting a candidate’s ability to campaign and fundraise simultaneously.

Gov. Brian Kemp will set the date for a special election to fill Kennedy’s seat in Senate District 18, which includes parts of Macon‑Bibb County in middle Georgia. That special election is likely to occur during the upcoming legislative session.

Kennedy has positioned himself as a pro-business candidate, citing his role this year in passing legislation that limits certain lawsuits and civil verdicts. He enters a crowded Republican primary that already includes Georgia Senate Majority Leader Steve Gooch, state Sens. Greg Dolezal and Blake Tillery, and Rep. David Clark. State Sen. Josh McLaurin is so far the only Democrat running for lieutenant governor.

Incumbent Lt. Gov. Burt Jones is not seeking reelection; he is running for governor next year instead. Earlier, Atlanta Democrat Jason Esteves — a former state senator and a 2026 gubernatorial hopeful — became the first sitting lawmaker running statewide to resign his seat.

Kennedy’s immediate resignation clears the way for a full-time campaign and fundraising during the crucial months leading into the primary, while triggering a special election that could shift the balance in the state Senate depending on timing and turnout.